THE HOPE OF ISRAEL - The Preterist Archive

The Hope of Israel: What Is It? 135
Samaria (Acts 8:1), the church at Jerusalem, the spiritual
house of God, being thus far its source. A little
later we find another "church" of God at Antioch ;
for
it is written that Barnabas sought Saul at Tarsus, and
brought him unto Antioch, and that for "a whole year
they assembled themselves with the church, and taught
much people" (Acts 11:25, 26). Here again in "the
church" in Antioch we find the Holy Spirit in full
charge ;
and after a year of teaching inside the House,
we see the living waters flowing out, and producing the
results intended in the purposes of God. For we read
at Acts 13:1, 2, concerning "the church that was at
Antioch", that "as they ministered to the Lord and
fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas
and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them."
And thus, from the House of God, and in the power of
the Spirit of God, the stream of the Gospel flowed out
in a new direction, and extended farther than it had
yet gone.
Still later on the gospel was carried into Europe and
it came to Thessalonica not in word only, but also
in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance
(1 Thess. 1:5). The result was "the church of
the Thessalonians in God the Father, and in the Lord
Jesus Christ" (1:1). And this is declared to be an
"example" or pattern for other churches, for the express
reason, as the apostle writes to them that, "From
you sounded out the Word of the Lord, not only in
Macedonia and Achaia, but also in
faith to God-ward is spread abroad." (1:8).
A GREAT DIFFERENCE
every place your
Our study brings into view a great difference between
the Temple God's dwelling place in the old